“Eclipse City,” I answer, and assure myself that he doesn’t see through my disguise. There’s no possible way. This is merely his nature. I saw it from our meeting at Fate Hearth last year. “It’s how I met Professor Thornbrow.”
“I see.”
“If you’ll please excuse me, my lord, Alor, there’s someone I’ve been meaning to catch a moment with.” I don’t let my warm expression slip, but I also don’t give them the opportunity to keep me there. Moreus has always made me uncomfortable. And, more important, Luren has just emerged from a side room.
I am careful to maintain an unhurried pace as I move for Luren. She scans the room, as if looking for someone. Though I suspect I know exactly who she’s searching for.
“How’s it going?” I ask as I close the last of the distance between us, keeping my voice low enough that only she can hear me.
“I tried to get a word in with Liam earlier, but Dristin stole me away.” She sighs. “He thinks I don’t have a chance if it’s not Clan Chariot.”
“I think his concerns are more than that,” I mumble.
“What?”
“Nothing. I think I saw Liam heading for the veranda a little bit ago. I haven’t seen him since. Try out there.”
Luren glances over her shoulder at the parlor she just came from. “He’ll probably be coming after me soon.”
“I’ll deal with him,” I say. “Buy you enough time to rub the right elbows. Go find Liam.”
She nods, and we part ways in opposite directions. She heads for the balcony, and I go into the room she just came from. It doesn’t take me long to find Dristin. In fact, I nearly run into him as he leads a pack of Chariot nobles. No doubt hunting for her.
I manage to keep them busy, buying Luren enough time to sequester into a side room with members of Clan Star. The second theywander off, I’m ready to sink into a glass of something cool and refreshing. But then a figure approaches me from a quiet lounge off to the side, as if emerging from the night itself. He’s a presence more than a person, announced by a breath of cool air and the thrum of familiar magic.
“Professor,” Kaelis says softly, his voice meant only for my ears. It’s the sort of voice he usually reserves for the bedroom.
I turn and meet his eyes. His tall frame cuts an imposing figure. The voids of his eyes meet mine, searching.
“I have an important matter to discuss with you, if you would follow me.”
I nod. I’ve no idea what he needs me for or why he’s daring to pull me aside in front of everyone. But there’s something in his eyes. Something in the way he moves that has me following without a thought—has the world falling away to nothingness as his hand closes around mine the moment we’re out of sight.
Chapter 60
Kaelis grabs two heavy, hooded cloaks from the coat check. I’m not sure if he brought both of them, planning this, or if he just demanded two cloaks and they knew better than to object to the prince. Either explanation seems plausible.
The night air is crisp with the promise of a frigid winter to come. I tug the hood up, less to conceal and more to chase away the chill. Kaelis’s steps are unhurried next to me as we wander the backstreets of Eclipse City.
“I’m surprised you’re cold,” he says. Clearly he has no interest in telling me where we’re going, and I have no interest in giving him the satisfaction of asking. Already this feels like a game.
“And why is that?”
“Because my current theory is that you have molten metal for blood,” he says without so much as a glance my way.
“Excuse me?” I tilt my head and angle my steps to get a better look at his face.
“Given that just sleeping next to you has me waking up drenchedin sweat, I’m fairly sure all that rage you keep wound up has your blood boiling every minute of the day.”
“Maybe my blood wouldn’t be boiling if not for your family constantly trying to kill me and those I love,” I say placidly.
“Half family. More or less.” He jokes so easily about one of his deepest secrets that I’m immediately caught off guard. “And can they even count if I’m actively trying to kill them all?”
“So brazen with talk of treason.” I make it a point to glance around, even though the alleyways are empty.
“Is it off-putting?” Kaelis seems genuinely concerned. But there’s a playful glint to his eye when he says, “And here I was trying to flirt with you.”
I snort.
